GETTING ACQUAINTED
WITH THE ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE PROGRAM
Many people do not
realize that there are actually two non-profit, independent, third-party
entities in North America involved in Green certification. One is Green Seal.
The other is the Environmental Choice Program (ECP), Ottawa, Ont., which is
stewarded by TerraChoice Environmental Marketing.
ECP is older than
Green Seal and major jansan chemical manufacturers are turning to ECP for Green
certification. Without question, ECP is playing a much larger role in Green
certification, especially for the professional cleaning industry.
ECP was started in
1988 to provide a market incentive for manufacturers and suppliers to promote
environmentally preferable products and services. It was also established to help
the consumer identify products and services that are safer to use and
protective of the environment.
Today, ECP
certifies an entire gamut of products and services from automatic dishwashers
and washing machines to cleaning chemicals and waste water treatment centres.
Once certified,
the product or service may use the ECP official symbol of certification, the
internationally-recognized EcoLogo. When a cleaning chemical is honoured with
the EcoLogo symbol, it means the product is made or offered in a way that:
- Reduces its impact on people and
the environment.
- Has ingredients that are readily
biodegradable and non-toxic.
- Performs as well as, if not better
than, conventional cleaning products used for the same or similar purpose.
- Is comparable in cost to conventional
cleaning products.
- Does not include ingredients such
as endocrine disruptors (which can harm glands and hormones that regulate
many of the body’s functions) or carcinogens.
- Does not contain hazardous
by-products.
- Is packaged in recyclable materials.
- Meets all applicable safety
standards for product use.
In addition,
certified products or services should meet or exceed any applicable
industry-specific safety and performance standards.
Similar to Green
Seal, the certification procedure starts when a manufacturer applies to have a
product ECP-certified. The manufacturer must first tell ECP why the product
should be considered environmentally preferable and what category – or
categories – best describe the item.
The manufacturer
then selects an approved and accredited testing laboratory to verify the
chemical ingredients in the product and determine whether it meets specific ISO
(International Organization for Standardization) quality control standards and
ECP’s compliance standards and criteria for that particular product.
The lab’s results
are then submitted to ECP for review, along with material safety data sheets
(MSDS) and any other related materials. If successful, a site audit is
conducted to confirm the laboratory’s results.
Because ECP has been certifying products and services longer
than any other organization in North America,
it has been able to streamline the verification process. In most cases, it
takes only two weeks to a month for a product to be certified. Costs for this
service vary and there is a relatively inexpensive licensing fee. Also, a
product must be re-evaluated annually to make sure it is still compliant.
Principals at ECP are:
- Scott
McDougall, president and CEO. McDougall is a biologist by education and
has devoted his career to management and marketing in the environmental
field. His recent appointments include:
- Member of the Advisory Board to Earthcycle Packaging
Inc.;
- Director of the Association of Consulting Engineers of Canada;
- Director of Bytown Brigantine Inc.;
- Member of the Advisory Board of the University of Ottawa
Professional Training Services;
- Member of the Environment Committee of the Canadian
Chamber of Commerce;
- Member of the Ad Hoc Committee on Urban Land Trusts in Ottawa;
- Member of the National Issue Table on Climate Change
International Flexibility Mechanisms;
- Co-chair, National Working Group on International
Emissions Trading.
- John
Polak, chairman, a professional engineer with more than 30 years of
experience in the environmental sector and at the senior management level.
- Kevin
Gallagher, vice president. Gallagher is responsible for the management and
application of sales, customer relations and business development
activities related to marketing and delivery of the Environmental Choice
Program. He is a member of the following:
- Public Relations Advisory Committee for Algonquin College;
- Plastic Film Manufacturers Association Recycling
Committee;
- Automotive Industries Association of Canada.
For more information about ECP, contact TerraChoice
Environmental Marketing at (800) 478-0399 or Fax: (613) 247-2228.
